Scaloni says Argentina embrace World Cup semifinal after testing run
Argentina face England in Atlanta with Lionel Scaloni brushing aside fatigue concerns after a bruising path through the knockout rounds.
By Sofia Marchetti · World Affairs Correspondent
3 min read
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said his team are ready for Wednesday’s World Cup semifinal against England in Atlanta, despite a demanding run through the knockout rounds. The holders are trying to reach a second straight final under Scaloni, who led them to the 2022 title.
Speaking to reporters before the match, Scaloni said Argentina’s place in the last four mattered more than the route they took to get there. According to AFP, he said the squad were “in good shape” and eager for a semifinal that renews one of the World Cup’s most charged rivalries.
Argentina have had to work hard to reach this stage. AFP reported that Scaloni’s side, led by 39-year-old Lionel Messi, beat Cape Verde 3-2 after extra time, came from behind late to defeat Egypt 3-2 in Atlanta, and then needed extra time again to beat 10-man Switzerland 3-1 on Saturday.
Scaloni said he would have accepted a semifinal place before the tournament, regardless of how Argentina got there. He told reporters he could not fault his players and said questions about tiredness did not matter with a World Cup final place at stake.
Old rivalry, current test
Argentina and England have met five times before at the World Cup, according to AFP. The most famous meeting came in the 1986 quarterfinal, when Diego Maradona scored with the goal known as the “Hand of God” and then added a celebrated solo goal as Argentina won.
Scaloni said Maradona’s second goal from that match remains special to Argentine supporters and football fans more broadly. He described it as a beautiful goal and noted that it came against England, according to AFP.
The fixture also carries political history. AFP noted that the 1986 match took place four years after Britain sent a military task force to reclaim the Falkland Islands following an invasion by Argentinian troops, with the sovereignty dispute still unresolved.
Scaloni has tried to keep that history away from the buildup. He told reporters the semifinal is a football match and said he would not merge it with events from a painful period in Argentina’s past.
Bellingham and Kane in focus
England, coached by Thomas Tuchel, arrive with two leading attacking threats. AFP reported that Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane have scored 12 of England’s 13 goals at the tournament.
Scaloni said Argentina are studying how to limit both players and suggested he may adjust his lineup, while also leaving open the option of naming the same team. He called Bellingham and Kane two of the world’s best players and said any coach would want them in his squad.
The semifinal at Atlanta Stadium will decide whether Argentina continue their title defense into another final. Scaloni’s message before kickoff was that the champions have endured the strain of the tournament and remain grateful to the players who put them one win from the final.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.